Black Diamond Podcast

S1E19 | The Art of Making Finance Tech Actually Make Sense

Join Cameron Lackpour and Celvin Kattookaran as they sit down with Jack Lacava, Product Enablement Manager at OneStream, to discuss the evolution of financial planning platforms and the critical role of community-driven learning. Jack shares his unique journey from web developer to EPM consultant to community moderator, offering insights into how OneStream's rapid pace of innovation—including hybrid cubes and AI capabilities—is reshaping FP&A workflows.
The conversation explores practical challenges facing finance teams today: managing feature adoption, establishing best practices for new tools, and bridging the knowledge gap between technical capabilities and business users. Jack provides valuable perspective on OneStream's community platform, the importance of peer-to-peer learning in the FP&A space, and what the shift from traditional EPM systems means for finance professionals navigating increasingly complex planning environments.
Key topics include: OneStream version 8 performance improvements, workspace dynamic dashboards, hybrid scenarios implementation, and the balance between flexibility and usability in modern FP&A platforms.

S1E18 | Building the Future of FP&A Marketplaces

A deep dive into how OneStream is democratizing access to financial planning solutions through Partner Place, Open Place, and the broader Solution Exchange ecosystem
Daniel Iannucci, Senior Program Manager of OneStream's Solution Network team, joins for an insider's perspective on one of the most ambitious initiatives in the FP&A technology space. This isn't just another product demo - it's a candid conversation about building a marketplace that could fundamentally change how finance teams access and deploy specialized solutions.
From Credit Unions to Solution Marketplaces
Daniel's path to OneStream is refreshingly unconventional. With 20+ years in project and program management but no traditional FP&A background, he brings an outsider's perspective to an industry that can sometimes be insular. His transition from managing internal OneStream projects to launching the Solution Exchange at Splash 2023 demonstrates how cross-functional expertise can drive innovation in unexpected ways.
The "process nerd" advantage: Daniel's passion for optimizing business processes perfectly aligns with the Solution Exchange mission - making it easier for partners to develop solutions and customers to access them.
Demystifying the Solution Exchange Ecosystem
The conversation breaks down the three distinct but interconnected platforms:
Marketplace (OneStream Internal)
Developed and supported directly by OneStream
Premium solutions with full commercial backing
Direct integration with product roadmap
Partner Place (Commercial Partner Solutions)
Developed by implementation partners like Black Diamond Advisory
Partners handle sales and support
Rigorous vetting process including line-by-line code scans and go-to-market analysis
Examples include Black Diamond's Accordion and Metadata Manager
Open Place (Community-Driven)
Free solutions with community support
Anyone can contribute (partners, customers, even external developers)
"Open source" philosophy with templates and blueprints for learning
Currently OneStream-developed but expanding to partner and customer contributions
The Trust and Adoption Challenge
Daniel candidly discusses the biggest hurdle: customer timidity. Many organizations worry that adopting marketplace solutions will be "like deploying OneStream all over again." The platform's power can be intimidating, and customers need reassurance about partner support capabilities.
The breakthrough moment: Successful partners offer free trials, and customers consistently respond with "I don't want to live without this now." It's the classic marketplace adoption curve - skepticism followed by dependency.
The Vetting Process: Quality Without Gatekeeping
The rigorous review process includes:
Line-by-line code scanning
Security reviews
Go-to-market viability analysis
Total Addressable Market (TAM) assessment
Balancing opportunity with reality: OneStream provides honest feedback about market size and viability, protecting partners from investing in solutions with insufficient market demand while still serving niche verticals strategically.
The GitHub Vision: Democratizing Development
One of the most intriguing aspects is Daniel's vision for GitHub-style collaboration. Currently, Open Place solutions can be downloaded and modified locally, but there's no repository-style version control. The team is actively exploring:
Automated development pipelines
Community-driven solution evolution
Faster time-to-market for targeted solutions
Repository-style collaboration tools
Industry Vertical Strategy
The focus on specific industry verticals represents a sophisticated go-to-market approach:
Automotive manufacturing
Food processing
Industrial manufacturing
Financial services
Education
The specialization advantage: Rather than generic solutions, the marketplace enables highly targeted tools that address specific industry pain points, making adoption more compelling and ROI more measurable.
Exponential Growth Predictions
Daniel's projection of exponential growth within 3-4 years isn't wishful thinking - it's based on case studies from Salesforce and ServiceNow marketplaces. Key growth drivers:
Automation of the development and deployment process
Elimination of cohort-based launches in favor of continuous deployment
Expansion beyond traditional OneStream partners to independent software developers
Current baseline: 26 solutions growing to hundreds within 2-3 years
The Developer Ecosystem Expansion
Perhaps most exciting is the conversation about attracting developers with no FP&A background. The Solution Exchange could become a platform for software developers to create specialized financial tools without deep domain expertise, similar to how mobile app stores democratized software development.
Personal Touch: The Podcast Within the Podcast
The episode's lighter moment - Daniel's personal podcast about random topics like "which side of the shower to enter" - humanizes the conversation and shows how diverse perspectives can strengthen product development. The shower debate (team "closer to faucet" vs. "further away") generated 1,000 Facebook comments, proving that seemingly simple topics often have passionate advocates on both sides.
Key Takeaways for Finance Leaders
For CFOs and Finance Directors:
Marketplace solutions can extend OneStream capabilities without custom development costs
Free trials reduce adoption risk
Industry-specific solutions may offer better ROI than generic tools
For Implementation Partners:
Clear path to monetize specialized expertise
Rigorous but fair vetting process
Opportunity to reach customers beyond direct relationships
For Software Developers:
Emerging opportunity to serve finance market without traditional FP&A background
Platform handles infrastructure, focus on solving specific problems
Community-driven development model reducing barriers to entry
This episode provides valuable insights for anyone interested in how enterprise software marketplaces evolve, the challenges of building trust in complex B2B environments, and the future of specialized financial planning tools. Daniel's combination of process optimization expertise and genuine enthusiasm for community-driven development makes this a uniquely informative conversation about where FP&A technology is heading.

S1E17 | From Manual to Modern

Velibor, Director of Finance Transformation at OceanaGold, shares his journey implementing OneStream while leading broader finance transformation efforts after the company relocated from Melbourne to Vancouver. Working with an entirely new finance team creates a unique advantage—no attachment to legacy processes or outdated methods. Velibor details his whirlwind travels from the Philippines to Las Vegas, training teams who are eager for the planning module following their successful consolidation implementation. The conversation reveals how proper financial systems drive strategic decisions, with Velibor emphasizing that organizations must "continue to evolve, don't be stagnant" to leverage technology for accessible, accurate data that powers business growth.

S1E16 | Bridging Generations in Tech

Onthis episode of the Black Diamond Podcast, Mel Lenhardt—Strategic CustomerAdvisor at OneStream—shares his journey from the early days of Hyperion toleading strategic initiatives today. He dives into how consulting has evolved,the impact of generational shifts in the workforce, and why AISML is set toredefine the future of EPM. Whether you're deep in the tech or just curiousabout where the industry is headed, this episode has something for you.

S1E15 | The Art of Problem-Solving

What does it take to solve complex challenges in enterprise software? In this episode, Ludovic De Paz shares his journey from working with SQL and Hyperion to leading innovative solutions at OneStream. He discusses the evolution of OneStream’s services, the power of cross-team collaboration, and how AI is shaping the future of financial technology. Tune in for valuable insights on problem-solving and adapting to a rapidly changing industry.

S1E14 | From Finance to Innovation

Join us for an insightful conversation with Jon Rambeau as he shares his journey from writing code on IBM mainframes in the 1980s to driving innovation at OneStream. Hear about his experiences in corporate finance, his role in the evolution of enterprise software, and the lessons he’s learned along the way. Plus, discover how teamwork, adaptability, and a passion for problem-solving have shaped his career. Don’t miss this engaging episode!

S1E13 | Consulting in the Age of AI

AI is shaking up the consulting world—are you ready? In this episode, we sit down with Tiffany Ma, a powerhouse in product marketing, to talk about career pivots, AI’s growing role in consulting, and what the future holds for the next generation of tech professionals. From her journey through Deloitte, UC Berkeley, OneStream, and beyond, Tiffany shares insights on how AI is transforming implementation, the skills consultants need to stay ahead, and why adaptation is the key to success.

S1E12 | Revolutionizing Finance with AI

In this episode of the BDA Podcast, we’re joined by Andrew Shea, Senior Vice President of AI Engineering at OneStream, for an insightful and entertaining discussion on Sensible Machine Learning and the future of AI. Andrew shares how OneStream is revolutionizing business forecasting and offers advice for companies looking to begin their AI journey. Tune in for expert insights, practical tips, and a few laughs along the way!

S1E11 | The Future of Finance

Join Black Diamond Advisory for an insightful conversation with OneStream Co-Founders Bob Powers and Tom Shea! Dive into the future of finance as they discuss groundbreaking innovations for 2025, including:
- Enterprise Finance AI
- New Functionalities
- Experiflow
- Sensible Machine Learning
- Dynamic Dimensions
- And much more!
Don't miss this opportunity to explore the cutting-edge advancements shaping the world of enterprise finance. Subscribe for more expert insights and updates!

S1E10 | How a CFO Transformed Her Equipment Rental Business

A real-world case study in moving from 16 Excel templates to sophisticated capital asset planning - and why the detailed approach delivered surprising accuracy
Nicole Cunningham, CFO of Jack Doheny Company (JDC) shares one of the most compelling implementation stories you'll hear. This isn't a theoretical discussion - it's a finance leader being brutally honest about what actually works, what doesn't, and how to avoid the traps that sink most projects.
The Perfect Storm: New CFO, New ERP, and COVID
Nicole's story begins with impeccable timing - she joined JDC in March 2020, right as they were implementing a new ERP and COVID hit. The new ERP was great for operations but terrible for reporting, leaving the finance team scrambling with dashboards that couldn't deliver the insights they needed for their rental equipment business.
The Excel template nightmare:
16 different branch locations, each requiring custom templates
Manual updates once (then twice) per year consuming massive amounts of time
A four-person finance team drowning in data compilation instead of analysis
Planning at equipment type level rather than individual assets, leading to "law of averages" inaccuracy
The Controversial Decision: Asset-Level Planning
Here's where the story gets interesting. Nicole had detailed Excel models and was comfortable planning at a higher level - 25 equipment types covering 1,000+ rental assets. But the BDA team (Greg and Ashwin) pushed for something that made her "really nervous": asset-level capital planning.
Why this was terrifying:
Individual asset decisions: what to buy, sell, keep
Utilization planning at the asset level
Depreciation schedules that actually matched reality instead of averages
Balance sheet implications that seemed overwhelming
Why it worked:
The "law of averages" was killing forecast accuracy
Different product lines had vastly different lifecycles (2-4 years)
Asset-level detail enabled proper depreciation calculations
Balance sheet planning became automatic instead of manual nightmare